Famine is not a synonym for drought

Last week numerous relief agencies operating in the area observed that famine exists in two regions of southern Somalia:southern Bakool and Lower Shebelle.They further warned that more regions were to succumb to famine in coming days.On the contrary the Islamist in control dismissed relief agencies observation as not true.

Drought is caused by shortage of water thus a climatic condition.If not prepared for or planned against leads to failure of harvest hence food shortage.

Famine is shortage of food.It is caused by decline in availability of food or reduction in people's access to it.In recent times it has come to be understood that famine can occur where overall food availability has not declined.It is in most cases human induced and actions of man have caused severe famines in history.

Access to Somalia is not an easy task.Relief agencies fear for their members lives and their is access is subject to vetting from the Islamist groups controlling most parts of southern Somalia.

Revisiting the Nomad Boy classic 1960

This classic documentary done in association with the UNICEF set in Somalia in the 1960 is about a young nomad who together with his father make a long trip to the city to get a glimpse of a school the boy had heard so much about.For the boy it is a dream come true.I hope you enjoy it!

A great relief

This comes as a great relief that the Kenyan government has accepted to open a new refugee camp along the Kenya-Somali camp, the IFO II camp in Dadaab.I personally thank prime minister Odinga for leading the initiative,he truely has refugees plight in his heart.

This grand opening comes after  worst drought to hit Somalia in years leading to infllux of thousands of refugees across the border to Kenya.Two years the Kenyan government stopped working on the camp citing insecurity as the main factor.Some circles within Kenyas political set up feared the opening would encourage more refugees to enter Kenya.

Around 80,000 refugees are expected in the new camp  a move that has been praised by UNHCR and other relief agenices in the area moreso after the recent break of drought.Concerns over Dadaab being over populated,under facilated or under serviced can now be put to bed.It is my wish that the camp runs smoothly  and refugees right are respected.Also,it is my belief that chlidren concerns within enclaves of the camp should be top of the agenda.

Pictures worth thousands of words

Road to Dadaab

The head of U.N.refugee has termed is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world at the moment.The worst drought to hit most part of Somalia in 60 years has led to an unimaginable mass exodus of people from Somalia to neighboring Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp.Tens of thousands of Somalis have already entered Kenya a figure estimated to be around 1,300 Somalis arriving  at the complex on a daily basis.

Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya was set up in 1991 to cope with the influx of Somalis fleeing their country after the break of civil war.The camp was initially equipped to cater for needs of around 40,000 to 60,000 people but today its population is estimated to be around 360,000 people a situation which is beyond control of relief agencies and other  humanitarianism organizations.

According to a report by World Food Programme 10 million Somalis are in danger of hunger of which 2 million are children.Some children have been travelling by foot for more than two weeks from Somalia to reach Dadaab in Kenya.Many as a result of hunger and fatigue have died before reaching their destination.Save the Children charity reported that more children have died in Dadaab in the first four months of this  year alone  compared to the whole of last year.

Time is of the essence, let us join our hands in helping our suffering brothers and sisters in Somalia.Let us  forge unity and put aside our differences in the spirit of humanity and help them when they need us most.